Plasma concentrations of growth hormone and somatomedin C in dwarf and normal chickens.

Sex-linked dwarf chicks, offspring from the mating of heterozygous sires with dwarf females, were used in this study. On days 18 and 20 of incubation, plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and somatomedin C (Sm-C) did not differ between normal chicks and those of the dw-dwdw genotype. After hatching, Sm-C concentrations in normal chicks remained comparable to the embryo values for up to 1 week, but those in dwarf chicks were lower. After 3 weeks Sm-C increased greatly in the controls, whereas in dwarf birds it was far less pronounced up to 18 weeks of age and only increased to control levels on week 12. GH was low during incubation and increased sharply after hatching in normal and dwarf chicks. After 3 weeks and up to 18 weeks, GH levels were higher in dwarf chicks, except at week 12 when they decreased to control concentrations.